Question

Find the length of the altitude to the hypotenuse. Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Solve for AD.

Answer 1

Answer:

  AD = 2.4

Step-by-step explanation:

All of the triangles in this figure are similar, so their corresponding sides have the same ratios.

The short side of ΔABD is 3/5 of the hypotenuse, which is 4.

  AD/AB = CA/CB . . . . = short side/hypotenuse

  AD = AB(CA/CB) = 4(3/5) = 2.4

The length of AD is 2.4 units.

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You can also go at this in terms of area.

  A = 1/2bh = 1/2(3)(4) = 1/2(5)(AD)   ⇒   AD = 12/5 = 2.4